Letters: Cyclists playing blame game must be responsible as well

IT is alarming to learn that compensation lawyers are acting for cyclists in potential claims against the council in Edinburgh.

As with the £30,000 of compensation paid to council employees for injuries, and also the recent equal pay cases, the council tax payer will end up footing the bill for all such settlements as well as compensation lawyers’ fees.

The compensation culture seems to have taken hold in Edinburgh. Are there any plans to control cyclists who, even before the tram roadworks, were causing potential injuries and accidents by cycling on pavements (when it suits them) and going through red lights?

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It is time that thought was given to some system of giving bikes registration plates or other means of regulating them or else making cyclists insure for third-party claims against them.

At present, lawyers must be queuing up to act for cyclists who can claim against the council for injuries to themselves, but they are cyclists who are usually untraceable to the injured pedestrians and car drivers who might wish to claim against their carelessness.

Angus Logan, Coates Gardens, Edinburgh

School solution poses problems

I THOUGHT Councillor Lyndsay Martin wrote a very interesting letter concerning the education facilities at Castlebrae High School and Portobello High School and suggested there should be a joint development of both schools (Letters, November 21).

What we need is an equal and inclusive education system in east Edinburgh which is the foundation for an integrated community.

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The question is: Will the children and their parents interact with people with diverse backgrounds?

Otherwise the most vulnerable members of the community would be marginalised. Often area regeneration programmes, such as in Craigmillar, when analysed for social need may well promote a sense that there is still a multiplicity of problems within the area.

So what is really wanted is a direct intervention to replace Castlebrae High School with a purpose-built building.

Chas Dennis, Niddrie Marischal Road, Edinburgh

Feeling blue over strong language

IN your report “Curtain up on new era at Brunton”, (News, November 20), East Lothian Provost Ludovic Broun-Lindsay is quoted as saying in reference to the theatre that “it is a place where we can share, interact, celebrate and be proud of our civic and cultural heritage”.

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I find this hard to believe or understand as on December 9, the comedian Daniel Sloss is performing in a show which includes a special guest from Newcastle called Kai Humphries who comes with a “strong language throughout” warning, despite the theatre permitting entry to 14-year-olds.

How exposing our children to the language of foul-mouthed comedians will increase our pride in our “civic and cultural heritage” is beyond my comprehension.

Or am I just a cultural dinosaur?

Bill Prentice, Pendreich Grove, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian

Shoppers are being priced out

EVERY week people out shopping find that prices are rising quite sharply – there is no hiding this fact.

Government spokespeople express surprise at the inflation rise of nearly three per cent, which is based on a lower calculation anyway.

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Perhaps in the world in which they live, a rise of 10p or 20p on items means nothing.

More and more people search for cheaper own-brand items when shopping; sometimes it works, other times the size or weight has been reduced so the price rise is hidden.

If the government can put a freeze on wage increases or restrict them to one per cent or two per cent, then they can restrict prices to the same level.

This can be done in the name of fairness, to which they constantly refer.

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This restriction on gas, electricity and oil suppliers is long overdue; the increases they have announced for starting this winter are amoral and show their complete indifference to the hardship being caused.

Pressure must be put on officials of all kinds, whether they are MPs, MSPs, councillors, energy companies and supermarkets.

A Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens, Edinburgh